How might the MacBook Air handle BF3?

Not even close. Typical framerates at medium detail cannot even reach 27fps. If you need a gaming system, you really have to step up to a 15" with discrete graphics. HD3000 does not cut it for FPS for the most part.

ha! Not even. Unless ivy bride's integrated solution is ten times faster you won't be doing much gaming on it.

Honestly for something like gaming on the go you will have to consider a Windows laptop. Like m11x.

Or go with the Sony Z-series with the power media dock for gaming, expensive though.

shadowjeff said:

Or go with the Sony Z-series with the power media dock for gaming, expensive though.

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That wouldn't work for gaming on the go...

I doubt it will run at any playable rate. BF3 uses a much upgraded engine from bad company with much improved physics/demolition and rendering. I'm wondering if it will be playable on my 15" 2010 MBP. Probably on low settings.

jclardy said:

That wouldn't work for gaming on the go...

I doubt it will run at any playable rate. BF3 uses a much upgraded engine from bad company with much improved physics/demolition and rendering. I'm wondering if it will be playable on my 15" 2010 MBP. Probably on low settings.

Click to expand...

True, won't be useful for portable gaming. But with the power media dock's amd 6650 gpu im pretty sure it will be more than playable, though probably not on high settings.

Short answer: it won't.

If you really intend to enjoy the latest games, you need a Windows-based desktop with a reasonably new mid to high end GPU. No less will suffice.

Lol... not even a chance... and you really can't judge BF3 from BF2, it's not a similar engine at all in terms of performance, but even if it were... not a chance at any level that looks half good and plays smooth enough that you can be half good.
Air isn't for gaming, sorry - by all means try it if you get one for another reason, but if the answer changes your decision on wether to get one or not, then you shouldn't be looking at the air in the first place imo.

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It's not the same engine as 2 this one is much more demanding however on the lowest settings it may be playable in bootcamp. Alienware has a nice 11 inch for $699 with dedicated graphics and weighs 3-4 pounds closest gaming machine you will get to the Air kinda want one deep down.